What is Impacted Earwax?
Earwax, a yellowish waxy substance, lines your inner ear canal. The tube running from the outer ear down to the eardrum is called an ear canal. Wax protects your canal against water, infections, injuries, and foreign bodies. Too much buildup of wax can be problematic. The buildup of earwax is known as impacted earwax. For Ear wax removal Cowbridge, visit https://www.earwax.co.uk/ear-wax-removal-near-me/cowbridge/
Earwax is formed by the secretions of glands located in your ears, which combine with skin cells that have died to create earwax. It is carried by the slowly growing skin cells. The earwax gradually moves up the canal from its innermost part to the opening. The jaw movement helps move the earwax through the canal.
Some factors can create problems in this process. A blockage of any kind in the canal may cause problems. A lot of people may also produce too much earwax. It can then build up inside the ear canal. It’s possible that the earwax does not completely block your ear. Earwax buildup is usually not a problem for most people.
It is not uncommon to have impacted earwax. Earwax becomes harder as you age. More earwax is more common in older adults. Hearing loss can be one of the symptoms. This can prevent an ear exam.
What is the cause of impacted earwax?
When your ear produces earwax more quickly than you can remove it, a buildup of earwax occurs. It can be caused by many different health conditions.
- Bony blockages
- Swimmer’s ear
- Skin diseases (such as Eczema)
- Lupus is an example of a disease that causes autoimmunity
- The ear canal is pronounced (by birth, inflammation or trauma)
- Injuries can cause excessive earwax production
Some of these causes cause physical obstruction.